17:407.94 Funding of approved local early learning enrollment coordinators

A. (1) For a coverage area identified by the state board as requiring an early learning enrollment coordinator, the department shall allocate not more than one percent of the public funds appropriated for each early childhood care and education program in the coverage area to support the local early learning enrollment coordinator in performing the services required by this Part. However, Head Start programs shall fund their respective recruitment, selection, and enrollment system mandated by applicable federal laws, regulations, standards, and grant requirements. Head Start programs shall collaborate with local schools and early learning centers to conduct combined recruitment enrollment activities as defined in R.S. 17:407.92.

(2) The amount allocated from the funding for each early childhood care and education program shall be proportionate to the number of children in the program enrolled by the local early learning enrollment coordinator for the coverage area.

(3) If an allocation cannot be made from a funding stream to support the early learning enrollment coordinator for a coverage area, the amount established for that funding stream to support the early learning enrollment coordinator shall be allocated from the remaining program funding streams in an amount proportionate to the number of children in each program enrolled by the local early learning enrollment coordinator for the coverage area.

(4) The state board shall not allocate additional funds to support early learning enrollment coordinators, as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection, from the funding stream for any early childhood care and education program that has a per-child allocation or subsidy below the state average per-child allocation or subsidy for all programs included in the enrollment system.

(5) The department may use funds allocated pursuant to this Subsection to support any local enrollment pilot programs during the 2014-2015 school year in order to inform the establishment of rules adopted by the state board on or before June 30, 2015.

B. The department may establish start-up or incubation grants to encourage sufficient supply of high-quality local early learning enrollment coordinators.

C. The local early learning enrollment coordinator shall annually submit to the department an independent financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant who has been approved by the legislative auditor. Such audit shall be accompanied by the auditor’s statement that the report is free of material misstatements. The audit shall be limited in scope to those records necessary to ensure that the local early learning enrollment coordinator has used funds to perform required services, and it shall be submitted to the legislative auditor for review and investigation of any irregularities or audit findings. The local early learning enrollment coordinator shall return to the state any funds that the legislative auditor determines were expended in a manner inconsistent with state law or state board regulations. The cost of such audit shall be paid by the department from funds provided pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.